Oppn calls on V-P over govt action; Sonia plans meet with top leaders
NEW DELHI: Fourteen Opposition leaders met vice-president Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday to condemn the government’s actions in the recently concluded monsoon session, even as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi announced a meeting with top leaders on August 20 to discuss the future course of a united Opposition.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and 13 others, met Naidu and submitted a letter to express their “strongest possible condemnation” at the manner in which Rajya Sabha was conducted on Wednesday evening, when the general insurance amendment bill was cleared amid furious protests by Opposition leaders.
“A very large number of security personnel, who were not part of the regular part of the watch and ward staff of the Rajya Sabha were deployed. They used unacceptable force and physically manhandled members of Parliament, including women members,” he said in a letter given to Naidu.
Describing the developments as “a shocking, unprecedented insult” to Indian democracy and dignity of the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition MPS alleged that they were “prevented from registering their protest” against the bill.
After the Opposition allegations, Naidu summoned officials on Thursday. “The officials reported that no outsiders were deployed as martials in the Rajya Sabha on August 10,” said an official release.
Opposition parties also staged a protest match to Vijay Chowk and later issued a joint statement accusing the government of deliberately derailing Parliament.
In a separate development, Sonia Gandhi called a virtual meeting with top Opposition leaders on August 20.
A senior Congress leader said the meeting was aimed to take forward the new-found unity between many Opposition parties during the parliament session.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut confirmed the meeting. “Maharashtra chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) too will participate in it,” he said.